Thank you NetGalley for giving me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book. It was a sweet cozy mystery where things ambled at their own pace. There was a lot of layers that were peeled off slowly, as Rory discovered more about Willow, the person who has been murdered. And yet, they never delve into WHY the person who died did whatever she did. That probably might have been too intense for a cozy mystery but everything that happened seemed to happen quite conveniently to push the story forward.

I mean the book didn't have too many surprises for me. The best part about it was figuring out more about Willow. That part was something I hadn't read in many books, I mean where the person who died had so many shades of grey. But Rory simply informs the police whenever she discovers a loose thread and the police go about investigating everything. Which is practical, that is probably how things would happen in real life. But this isn't real life. It's a novel. And if Rory is sleuthing, shouldn't she be curious about something herself enough to peel back some layers? That part just didn't feel altogether that great. I mean Rory is a nice person, but there was also too little about her personality in this book. I, for one, liked Rory's best friend, Liz so much more than her.

Okay, so Liz sets Rory up with Tripp, the person who is the culprit, and in the end, Liz has absolutely no guilt for setting her best friend up with a murderer? No apology nothing? That's so bad. I would feel so guilty if I put my best friend in harm's way, even if it was unintended.

This wasn't one of the better cozy mysteries I've read in recent times. It's a quick and light read, just devoid on a lot of details. Also, this is Book 3 in the series and you can feel the gap in understanding because the dynamics between the characters aren't open enough for a newbie. You should have read the earlier novels to understand things. So, if you're jumping to Book 3 straight, I would recommend reading Book 1 and Book 2 before so you know what happens.

An easy to read cosy mystery that I would recommend to others. Lovely plot, and story. Just great!!

I've read a few books from Henery Press and do enjoy a good cozy so I was anticipating this book. Unfortunate I requested too close to the archive date and within a couple of dates of my approval the book was archived. I know better for next time and now I download all my books as soon as I get that approval notification to avoid any mishaps in the future.

This trip to Vista Beach has the residents in the middle of a heatwave. There are two mysteries in this story, one trying to identify a seriously ill homeless man, the second solving a murder. Rory has befriended a homeless man, Kit and is heading down to the waterfront to give him a bag of cans to recycle. When she and Liz can't find him at any of his usual haunts, they are worried. When they hear barking on the beach, they realize it is Kit's dog Buddy. They run to him and ask him where Kit is. He runs off and they follow, finding him under the dock with a large bump on his head suffering severe dehydration from the heat. An ambulance is called and while waiting, Kit says the name Zoe to Rory before dropping into unconsciousness. Rory is determined to find out if he has any family and who is the mysterious Zoe. There are also several burglaries occurring in the area, and Rory stumbles upon one gone bad. Her neighbour, Willow is dead on the floor of her kitchen with a knife in her stomach. The police do not think it was a burglary and Rory's friend Dawn is accused of the murder and she has asked Rory to find out what she can. Dawn is adamant that she was not involved, although she was at Willow's house the night of the murder.

Naturally, it turns out that Willow had a number of secrets, and those kept the pages turning until we reached the end. There were a lot of twists and revelations along the way and the ending, was quite surprising. I enjoy Rory and her friend Liz, but besides them, most of the characters are in and out of the story so not as well developed. Once again, Sybil Johnson included an issue plaguing many cities, homelessness. This added an air of reality to the story and makes you think about how you treat others, what supports are in place for homeless people and what you might be able to do to help. I really enjoyed how both these storylines were brought together at the end. A good, quick read for any cozy mystery lover.

I just enjoy Rory. You will get caught up in her world and its a quirky one at its best. Great writing wonderful setting and a protagonist that I can enjoy

A killer heat wave settles over Seagull Lane...Summer’s sizzling in Vista Beach, the home of computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast Aurora (Rory) Anderson. The abnormally high temperatures are hard on everyone, espcially the homeless population. Residents are doing everything they can to stay cool, including leaving windows open to catch the faintest breeze. The local air conditioner companies have waitlists for everyone who wants cool air in their home. They aren't the only one, a string of burglaries is plaguing nearby towns and no one understands how they are gaining entrance.

Still, Rory doesn’t expect to find her neighbor’s body, who is homeless, just a few doors down. Suspicion falls on a friend and fellow painter, she turns to Rory for help and help discover the truth before the police try her for murder. As Rory investigates she finds more and more information, but the final ending is the biggest twist of all.

Book Review plus 4.8

This book had a great twist that I didn't quite understand until the very end of the story. I KNOW people will like the story and we will all wait for the next book in this series.

Book 3 has a more complicated plot than the first two with a new age character, a homeless guy, Rory's former nemesis (the cop), a possible romantic interest and more showing up. The story line gets a little convoluted and as I mentioned previously, Rory needs to do her own work and have the mystery more in her milieu, though this one is close to "home" at least (instead of where her mother is or while she's working for her mother).

I didn't realize that this book was part of the Aurora Anderson series when I requested a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Sometimes I don't recall characters' names (and she's always called Rory in the books). The blurb sounded so good and while the story itself wasn't bad (hence my OK rating), but I'm not thrilled with the characters, especially Rory. There's something about her that irritates me.

Rory Anderson is a computer programmer and artist who works from home and lives in Vista Beach, California. Before heading out for the day with her friend Liz Dawson, she's gathered a trash bag of recycling for a homeless friend, Kit, so she and Liz head to the pier to find him. They don't immediately find him but do find his dog Buddy who leads them to an injured Kit under a pier. Discovering someone hit him over the head, he is sent to the hospital while Liz finds a temporary home for Buddy and Rory decides to try and find out who injured him.

Luckily, her mother agrees to keep Kit's bicycle and belongings at her store, but when Rory arrives she finds another store owner arguing with her mother Arika. Willow Bingen is overbearing, opinionated, and makes some pointed remarks about the homeless before she finally leaves. Rory tells Arika the only information she has as to who injured Kit is the word "Zoe" and a picture she found in his backpack.

Later that evening, Rory is at the home of Dawn, another friend who also works part time at Arika's store when she's not teaching painting. Rory and Dawn are testing a new software program for Dawn's online classes. While they're testing, someone arrives at Dawn's home and Rory can hear them arguing. It isn't long before she discovers the intruder is Willow; but after she leaves an upset Dawn refuses to speak of it. Also after leaving Dawn's home she finds out that Kit left the hospital but isn't able to locate him.

The next day she finds Willow's cat Sekhmet's collar on her lawn - it turns out the cat has a regular habit of escaping the device - and goes to return it. When she arrives at Willow's home, the door is ajar and even though she senses something is off, she enters the home. What she finds is the body of Willow with a knife in her chest.

So Rory has her hands full: trying to find Kit, wondering who killed Willow, and gearing up for a blind date that Liz has set up. If anything is going well for her, it's the date - she's met a doctor named Tripp Keating, and he wants to see her again. Of course, there is also the fact that Dawn is the main suspect in the murder of Willow and has asked for Rory's help in clearing her and finding the real killer.

Once Rory starts investigating she finds out that Willow was keeping secrets - and some of them may be tied to more than one friend of hers. With Kit back under observation but not doing well, a possible new relationship on the horizon, a police detective watching out for her, and still trying to figure out who hit Kit and murdered Willow, Rory might just not only be trying to find a murderer - she just might be the next victim...

I found this book to be quite a pleasurable read. Ms. Johnson's characters have depth and warmth; the book is peopled throughout with characters that are three-dimensional and believable. You can sense the bond between Rory and her friends, and the fact that you know they truly care for each other just by their interaction together.

There are moments of sadness (where I may or may not have shed a tear) that show us that when you have great loss you also have great pain, and it manifests itself in different ways. With plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested, and more than enough secrets to go around, we are taken on a journey that connects one event to another in an impressive fashion. When the murderer is finally discovered (as we know they must be) and the motives known, the ending gives us a feeling of satisfaction and a book well read. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

When there is a murder and some think her good friend might be the killer based on an argument, Rory starts investigating despite the nice Detective's frequent requests that she stop. Then her friend Kit is found under the dock unconscious, a victim as well. Kit is homeless and has muttered something about the night of the murder and the victim, but it's not looking good for him. Rory arranges for the care of his dog, Buddy, and tries to find any relatives or the girl named Zoe.
In her quest for the killer and Kit's history (not to mention who hit him in the head), she stumbles on a lot of clues.

This is an enjoyable read with interesting characters and plot turns. There are the usual suspects, but Johnson keeps you guessing until the end. The good and bad energy is well-balanced and the pace is steady. Readers of cozy mysteries will enjoy this one. This is the third in the Aurora Anderson Mystery series, but can be read as a stand alone without any problem.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

Rory is struggling to survive a heatwave when her life runs off the rails this time. Finding a murdered body for the third time in less than six months seems rare for any person. Her romantic life appears to be moving in the right direction. Liz introduces Rory to a handsome doctor who comes across with a heart of gold. She also learns that the dashing detective is suddenly single.
With the help of friends and friends of friends, this neighborhood mystery reveals itself at a comfortable, steady pace. The characters are nicely developed, with depth but still some secrets.
There is an underlying theme of cancer touching everyone's lives.

This is a great book; this is the third book in the Aurora Anderson Mystery series written by Sybil Johnson.This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Vista Beach is in the middle of a serious heat wave. The lack of cool air is taking its toll on anyone who doesn't have central air, including the homeless community. When Rory and Liz go to check on a homeless resident that Rory has taken a shine to, they find Kit semi-unconscious under a pier with a nasty head wound. Uttering the words "Zoe" before passing out had Rory in sleuth mode. Who is Zoe and who attacked Kit?

The heat wave also has burglars taking advantage of the situation. Residents are leaving their windows open in hopes of catching a faint breeze, making B&E much easier. And that's what looks like happened at the home of her neighbor, Willow. Except Rory doesn't expect to find Willow on the floor of her kitchen in a pool of blood. In addition to finding Kit's attacker, Rory is determined to figure out who killed Willow - much to the dismay of Detective Martin Green.

There are several storylines in A Palette for Murder that are seemingly distinct but that author takes each thread and magically weaves them all together. A Palette for Murder is quire engaging, flows well, and keeps the reader on their toes. The red herrings tossed in will keep the reader guessing what exactly is going on and then near the end everything seamlessly falls into place.

Rory is a great character and doesn't act the fool so much in Book 3 as I felt she did in the previous two books as my reviews for them indicate. Detective Green received a little more page time in A Palette for Murder, and I'm grateful for that - he's my favorite character. He's capable and competent, and has a definite interest in Rory. I enjoyed seeing the concern that he had for Rory even though there is a potential love interest for Rory. I loved Liz, Rory's friend, and Arika, Rory's mother. They were unique and added to the story.

The story was a quick and easy read. There wasn't anything confusing or hard to understand. The dialogue between all of the characters was fluid and comfortable. The author does a great job creating a world that grabs the reader and pulls them in, keeping them engaged from start to finish. The characters are vibrant and exciting for the most part. I really enjoyed A Palette for Murder.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided through NetGalley.

A Palette for Murder is the third installment in Sybil Johnson's Aurora Anderson mystery series. Aurora (Rory) is a computer software designer by vocation and a budding artist by avocation in the seaside Southern California town of Vista Beach. Vista Beach is experiencing an unusual heat wave which is taking its toll on the residents, in particular the homeless. The town has set up cooling centers for those without air conditioning, including the homeless.

First the homeless man Rory had befriended when he saved her life is attacked and found under the pier, then Rory's neighbor is murdered. What is common to these two events is that Rory found them both. When Detective Martin Green investigates both crimes, once again Rory finds herself in his company and in his shadow as the crimes are solved.

At first there are no suspects for the murder until Rory's friend Dawn is arrested. Dawn pleads with Rory to help find the culprit, little do they know the danger that will follow. With her best friend Liz in tow, Rory investigates her neighbor's murder and ultimately the death of her homeless friend only to discover the link between the two. And when she comes upon the common denominator, it is now Rory who is in peril.

Well written with twists and turns that will take you to the very end questioning whodunnit. Although part of a series, this book certainly stands alone. With enough information to place the cast of characters yet no so much as to be redundant to the series faithful, this book is a very good read and I do recommend it.

Rory Anderson is an earnest, interesting character, but the plot of A Palette For Murder is very implausible. I felt as if the author threw down a bunch of names and tried to work them into the plot without much success. Rory is billed as a software designer and tole painter, but she never seems to work. I would have liked a little more activity in the paint and scrap shop her mother owns.

This is the third book in the Aurora Anderson mystery series. I love this series set on a lovely California beach front community. This is a excellent mystery that held my interest and was a delight to read. The protagonist is interesting and well rounded as a painter and a computer programmer . When she finds a neighbor dead her sleuth begins. I enjoyed the many twist of the plot and found it complex. The supporting characters are fun and add to the story . All in all this is a very enjoyable cozy series. ,. I look forward to the next in series .Cross posted too Amazon .

Vista Beach is in the middle of a heatwave, and thieves are taking advantage of people leaving doors and windows open. It looks like Rory has stumbled on the aftermath of one such burglary when she finds her neighbor, Willow, dead on her kitchen floor. But the police aren’t buying robbery as a motive, and they focus on Rory’s friend Dawn as the killer. Can Rory learn the truth?

Naturally, it turns out that Willow had a number of secrets, and those kept the pages turning until we reached the end. I did figure things out a bit early, but my jaw still literally dropped at a couple of the twists along the way. The characters are good enough to make us care about the outcome, but they could still be a bit more developed. Still, this is a fun book that flew by all too quickly.

Loved it. I wanted to make the book last longer, but could not stop turning the pages. Clever mystery with several surprises. I am eager to read Rory's next adventure. The beach town location with its activities and heat problems was an added treat.

A Palette for Murder

by Sybil Johnson

I had my introduction to the Aurora Anderson Mystery Series with the third book of the series, A Palette for Murder. This well-crafted book begins comfortably with a chapter that sets the scene in an unseasonably hot beach town and introduces the main characters: Rory (Aurora), a computer programmer, and her friend Liz, a real estate agent. Before the chapter is over they discover Kit, a homeless man Rory has befriended, injured through an apparent attack at the beach.

The plot rapidly becomes more complicated as Rory is often present when disaster strikes. Even more trouble finds her in this tale as she is motivated by a drive to help others and find solutions.

I had a great time following the clues as Rory tries to unravel various mysteries. There are two romantic interests, but they do not dominate the story--the mystery does. The ending was satisfying, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by Sybil Johnson.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery & Thriller, General Fiction (Adult)

Notes: This cozy mystery works fine as a standalone.

Publication: January 31, 2017--Henery Press

Unlike the first two books in the series, A Palette for Murder by Sybil Johnson doesn't motivate me to take up tole painting. It did keep me guessing about Rory's homeless friend Kit and what had happened to him. The mystery wasn't what I expected from this series, but it kept me turning pages and guessing until the end.

A Palette for Murder is an excellent addition to this series.
Rory is a fun character and I love reading about her adventures.
When she discovers her friend Kit unconscious, she has no idea what this grim discovery will lead to.

This story has evolved and the friendship dynamics were great in this book.

I look forward to seeing what's i store for Rory next.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book given to me from the publisher via NetGalley.